DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #12

The Supergirl From Krypton, Part Five:  Traitor

September 2004

Written by Jeph Loeb

Pencils by Michael Turner

Inks by Michael Turner

Cover by Michael Turner

Synopsis

On Apokolips, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have come to take Kara Zor-el away from Darkseid and back home to Earth.  Superman uses the Kryptonian ring to knock Kara unconscious while Batman threatens Darkseid with the destruction of Apokolips unless he agrees to let her go.  Darkseid agrees.  Later, Superman takes Kara back to Fortress of Solitude where she dons the Supergirl outfit.  He then takes her to Smallville.  However, when they reach the farm, Darkseid suddenly appears, punches Superman and then attempts to kill him.  Supergirl jumps in the way and instead, she is killed. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The ending was fairly predictable.  You can sense it based on Darkseid’s answer to Batman when the dark knight demands Kara be let go.  “I will make no move against her.”  Despite that, I liked the way it ended.  Up to that point I was beginning to feel like the entire situation in Apokolips was just a waste of time, a side trip in the story just because Loeb though it would be neat to include Darkseid.  But with the ending, at least, the role of Darkseid is not that trivial.  We know that Supergirl can’t be dead.  The only question at this point, did Batman outwit Darkseid with some kind of trick regarding Supergirl’s supposed death or did Darkseid outwit Batman with someone acting like Kara?

Other than the ending, this issue was basically more of the same:  the trinity fighting with each other and against Darkseid in lieu of actual dialogue and characterization of the Supergirl for Krypton.  I think the small exchange between Batman and Supergirl regarding the name of her mother was perhaps one of the best parts of this entire storyline.  It showed more of who she is and struggling to be than anything else in the story.